Developer to seek help with drainage

A developer of Carriage Hills Plaza will ask the city for $60,000 to help with a required drainage project on the site.

But the timing of the request isn't likely to help its cause.

Fishman & Co. will make its request to the City Council at its 7 p.m. meeting today, May 18, at City Hall. Two hours earlier, at 5 p.m., the council is scheduled to gather for a work session in which members will try to prioritize a growing list of capital projects that carry a combined price tag of more than $23 million.

"It's up to the council, but I think we've been more than fair with them," City Administrator Mike Smith said of Fishman's request. Plus, Smith noted, the request would come right after the council talks again about prioritizing spending on other pressing city projects.

Fishman & Co. and ARO Real Estate are co-developers of the Carriage Hills Plaza, which is under construction near the Holiday Inn Express, 120 Express Drive.

In a letter to the city, Fishman president Michael H. Fishman said the request for the $60,000 drainage work was linked to the Main Street System Enhancement Project.

The original plans for the development called for a detention center on the property's site, Fishman said, and when work on Main Street started, the Kansas Department of Transportation would install a drainage pipe under Main Street from the shopping center to tie into a public storm sewer as part of its project.

"Regrettably, the KDOT right of way taking left us with insufficient area for detention, and even though KDOT would be willing to install the crossing as part of their project, they are unwilling or unable to reimburse us if we do their work for them," Fishman wrote.

Another problem facing Fishman, again, is timing.

Smith said it was the city's position that the drainage improvements be made immediately so that businesses downhill from the center, including Lansing Lumber, do not have to worry about flooding from runoff at the center.

Because of the immediate need, it does not fit into KDOT's Main Street timetable.

"None of these complications were anticipated or planned for when we presented this project to the city," Fishman wrote.

The council meeting and work session, which are sandwiched around a farewell reception at 6 p.m. for longtime City Clerk Karen Logan, will be in council chambers at City Hall, 800 First Terrace.

Here's the meeting agenda:

Consent calendar

¢ Consider approval of April 27 special meeting minutes

¢ Consider approval of May 4 meeting minutes

New business

¢ Hear an update on Lansing Historical Museum

¢ Consider appointments to the Lansing Library Board

¢ Discuss a request to share costs for Carriage Hills Plaza drainage work

¢ Consider a conditional use permit for a ceramics shop at 14004 Robin Road

¢ Consider an appointment to the Board of Zoning Appeals

¢ Consider a resolution pertaining to the East Eisenhower Road improvement project

¢ Consider an agreement with Unified School District 469 setting up a benefit district and outlining the 50-50 split on costs associated with extending Bittersweet Street from Brook Meadow Road to West Mary Street